The Solution
Many alternative products are available that can clean just as well as conventional ones. Products that are less toxic than typical cleaners pose lower, if any, health risks. When purchasing cleaning products make sure that they’ve been green-certified by an independent institution, such as Green Seal. It’s also important to read the label, noting the ingredients, warning labels, and instructions for proper use. An online database is provided by The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency's website for green cleaning products.
Green cleaning products use:
• Grain alcohol, instead of toxic butyl cellosolve, as a solvent
• Coconut or other plant oils, rather than petroleum, in detergents
• Plant-oil disinfectants, such as eucalyptus, rosemary, or sage, rather than triclosan.
Green Brands For households:
Method Seventh Generation
Ecover
Shaklee
How to make your own cleaning products:
You can use simple ingredients, such as soap, water, baking soda (sodium bicarbonate), vinegar, washing soda (sodium carbonate), lemon juice, and borax to satisfy most household cleaning needs, while protecting your health and saving money!
- Baking Soda - cleans, deodorizes, softens water, scours.
- Soap - unscented soap in liquid form, flakes, powders or bars is biodegradable and will clean just about anything. Avoid using soaps which contain petroleum distillates.
- Lemon - one of the strongest food-acids, effective against most household bacteria.
- Borax - (sodium borate) cleans, deodorizes, disinfects, softens water; cleans wallpaper, painted walls and floors.
- White Vinegar - cuts grease, removes mildew, odors, some stains and wax build-up.
- Washing Soda - or SAL Soda is sodium carbonate decahydrate, a mineral. Washing soda cuts grease, removes stains, softens water, and cleans wall, tiles, sinks and tubs. Do not use on aluminum.
- Isopropyl Alcohol - is an excellent disinfectant.
- Cornstarch - can be used to clean windows, polish furniture, shampoo carpets and rugs.
- Citrus Solvent - cleans paintbrushes, oil and grease, as well as some stains.
Home Office Products There are many simple ways to improve product purchasing and use, lowering your costs and environmental impacts. Below are some quick ideas.
Go Digital: Instead of printing everything keep online files. When printing, print documents double-sided. Most companies and banks have online bill pay options and allow you to stop the delivery of paper statements.
Buy Bulk: Purchase office products, such as paper and cleaning products, in bulk, so packaging and shipping wastes are reduced. Make sure you recycle, or even better, reuse the shipping boxes.
Paper: Printer paper should be of high post-consumer content (over 30%) and made from 100% recycled paper.
Recycle: Old printer cartridges are recyclable, and you can purchase recycled replacements, which are generally less expensive. Batteries and old light bulbs are considered toxic waste, and should be taken to collection spots, such as Walgreens, for proper disposal. Check your city's environmental department website and Save the Bay for more information.
|
